Switch-controlled vacuum flasher



July T5, 1941. 1P. 'wElEN- SwfTlGH-CONTBOLLED YA GUUM FLSER" maga aan'. 15. 111940 MNW IIIIII' Patented July l5, 1941 UNITED STATES ariane r Fries Paul Weich, Marietta, Pa, assigner of one-half to Henry S. Rich, Jr., Marietta, Pa.

Application January 15, 194i), Serial No. 313,863

(Cl. Zeil-55)) 1.2 Claims.

rThis invention relates to direction indicator systems for automotive vehicles, and more particularly to an electric system whose direction signals are in the form oi periodic iight flashes at one or b-oth ends ol a vehicle and on either side of the same.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a vacuum iiasher which is in each signal circuit ci an electric direction indcator system and is connected with, and disconnected from, an operating partial vacuum on closing and opening, respectively, any signal circuit or circuits by means of a control switch which is common to all signal circuits.

It is a further object oi the present invention to embody the common control switch and the vacuum iiasher in a single contained unit, thereby not only simplifying the control oi the switch over the operation oi the asher but the installation of the entire indicator system as well.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement oi parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is 'for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a direction switch and vacuum flasher unit embodying the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections through the unit taken on the lines Zz--l and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows several disassembled parts of the unit in perspective.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing. l shows a direction signal switch and a vacuum flasher E2 combined in single con ained unit. The switch 2li comprises a housing consisdng oi a cylindrical cover 2t and tivo covers 2% and Sil. The cover 2S is provided with a plurality of longitudinal guide channels (Fig. 2) which receive bolts Sil that retain the end covers 28 and 36 in engagement with the opposite ends or" said. guide channels. Suitably mounted on the end cover 28 is a bearing sleeve (Fig. 1) in which is journailed an axially immovable bearing sleeve 38 that carries on its inner end in any suitable manner a disc it of a brush carrier ft2 which includes another, centrally apertured disc @nl and two diametrically opposite brush holders 4% and 43 0i any suitable insulating material such as HBakelite (Fig. 2). The discs lill, til and the brush holders 415, lil therebetween are assembled together by rivets lill or the like. 1Provided in the brush holders d6, d3 are conductive sleeves 52 each of which receives two brushes ed and 5S and a spring 5t that urges said brushes apart. The outer brushes 555 in the conductive sleeves 52 of the brush holders iii and 48 are urged into permanent engagement with arcuate conductive tracks Ella and Elib, respectively, which are secured to the inner cylindrical wall of the switch housing by means oi terminals 62 and rivets 63. The inner brushes 54 in the sleeves 52 of the brush holders 4t and t ride on 'the periphery of a rotor 64 which is a of any suitable insulating material, suitably mounted on a stub shaft 66 which is journalled and suitably held against axial movement in the bearing sleeve 33 of the brush carrier. Suitably carried by the rotor 64 is an arcuate conductor lit. Whose periphery is concentric to, and flush with, the periphery of said rotor. The rotor 5d is further provided with a metal disc 'ill (Figs. l and 4), having preferably three equi-singularly spaced cams 12 which are adapted to register under certain conditions with depressions 'l in a metallic lock disk '16. The lock disk 'i6 is held non-rotatable and is guided for movement axially of the rotor G4 by means of guide pins 'f8 (Figs. 3 and 5) which project from the end cover si) of the switch housing, and said lock disk is normally urged against the rotor disc lll by compression springs il@ which surround the guide pins it. The apertured disc M of the brush carrier is preferably provided with four cams S2 (see also Fig. 4) whose inner ends are adapted to register under certain conditions with the depressions 'ifi in the lock disk l. The caros l2 and 82 on the rotor and the brush carrier, respectively, and the depressions 'M in the lock disc "it are of a similar cross-sectional shape so that said depressions 'l may simultaneously register with the cams l2 and B2 when the rotor and the brush carrier assume certain angular positions. Thus, in the neutral position of the brush carrier 'i2 shown in Fig. 2, the cams 82 thereof are displaced 30 from the depressions ld in the lock disk lli in the manner shown in Fig. 4 with the result that said lock disk is held depressed. In the neutral position of the rotor shown in Fig. 2, the outer ends of its cams 'I2 are in alinement with the depressions 14 in the lock disk 'I6 in the manner shown in Fig. 4, but may not register with the same inasmuch as the cams 82 of the brush carrier hold said lock disk depressed. However, while the rotor 64 is in its neutral position and on rotating the brush carrier 42 from its neutral position (Fig. 2) in either direction through 30 into either of two active positions, the cams 82 of the brush carrier will aline with the depressions 'I4 in the lock disk 'I5 and permit the latter to yield closer toward the brush carrier and lock the same as well as the rotor against rotation by virtue of the registry of the cams 82 and '12, respectively, with the depressions i4 in said lock disk. Release of the brush carrier 42 from locking engagement with the disk 76 may be accomplished by forcibly rocking the brush carrier from either active position or by turning the rotor from its neutral position. In either case the lock disk T6 is depressed from locking engagement with the cams i2 and 82 of the rotor and the brush carrier, respectively, as will be readily understood. The brush carrier 42 is normally yieldingly urged into its neutral position by any suitable means, such as the spring means 84 (Fig. 1) which are fully shown and described in my co-pencling application, Serial No. 305,637, lcd November 22, i939. However, the spring force which tends to return the brush carrier to its neutral position Y must be insufficient to unlock the brush carrier in either active position.

On rocking the brush carrier 42 from its neutral position through 30 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 for a right-turn indication, for instance, the brush 54 in the brush holder 46 engages the rotor conductor 68. When such engagement takes place, two signal circuits are closed which comprise any suitable source of electrical energy, such as a storage battery, and a suitable electrical connection (neither shown) between said battery and a terminal post 66 on the switch housing, a conductive sleeve 88 provided by said terminal post, a brush 90 which is received in the sleeve 83 and spring-urged against the rotor conductor 63, the conductor 68 itself, the brushes E4 and 56 in the conductive sleeve 52 of the brush holder 46, the conductive track 60a and the terminal 62a from which leads 92 and 94 pass to grounded light bulbs 56 and 68, respectively. The bulbs 96 and 98 may be mounted in special lamp housings on the right side, for instance, and in the rear and front, respectively, of the Vehicle, and light emitted from these lamp housings will indicate a right turn. Two more bulbs |60 and |62 are mounted in similar lamp housings at the left side and in the rear and front, respectively, of the vehicle, and light emitted from these lamp housings will indicate a left turn. The signal circuits through the latter bulbs are closed in a selfevident manner on rocking the brush carrier 42 from its neutral position counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. Instead of using special bulbs and special lamp housings for sending direction signals, the conventional parking light bulbs and/or stop light bulbs in the vehicle may be used for this purpose in a manner shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 298,793, led October' 10, 1939.

The rotor shaft 66 carries at its iront end a lever |64 which is in any suitable manner so drivingly connected with the steering mechanism of the vehicle that the rotor 64 assumes its neutral position when the vehicle proceeds in a straight direction, is turned counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 when the vehicle turns to the right, and is turned clockwise when the vehicle turns to the left. The driving connection between the rotor 64 and the steering mechanism may, for instance, be like the one shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 305,638, filed November 22, 1939. Thus, on rocking the brush carrier 42 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, for instance, for closing the right-turn signal circuits before the vehicle actually negotiates the indicated turn, the brush carrier 42 becomes locked in its corresponding active position and maintains said circuits closed. The rotor 64 is then turned from its neutral position counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 as soon as the vehicle starts to negotiate the right turn, with the result that the brush carrier 42 is released from locking engagement with the disk 'I6 and spring-returned to its neutral position. However, the return of the brush carrier 42 to its neutral position does not result in opening of the right-turn signal circuits because the rotor 64 has in the meantime been suliciently rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 that the rotor conductor 68 remains in engagement with the brush 54 in the holder 46. The steering mechanism of the vehicle will return the rotor 64 to its neutral position when the vehicle assumes its straight direction of movement after negotiating the right turn, and the right turn signal circuits will be opened shortly before the rotor arrives in its neutral position. It will now be understood that once the switch is manually set for a left or right-turn indication, the corresponding signal circuits will reinain closed until the rotor 64 returns to neutral position, i. e., until the vehicle has substantially negotiatcd the indicated turn.

The switch housing 24 may be mounted on a bracket |06 which is preferably secured to the steering gear housing of the vehicle in a manner shown and described in my previously mentioned co-pending application, Serial No. 305,638. To manually operate the brush carrier, a lever |68 on the brush carrier sleeve 33 (Fig. 1) is preferably connected with a switch actuator shalt which passes upwardly through the steering gear housing and is suitably journalled in a hollow steering shaft that carries the steering wheel at its upper end, all as shown and described in my said copending application Serial No. 305,638. The upper end of the switch actuator shaft may have a manual actuator at the hub of the steering wheel as shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 298,794 lcd October 10, 1939.

The switch herein described is structurally similar to the switch shown and described in my mentioned co-pending application, Serial No. 305,637, and operates like the switch shown in my prior Patent No. 1,910,869, May 23, 1933.

The vacuum flasher 22, which is embodied in a unit with the direction signal switch 20, comprises in the present instance a rigid metallic end member A| I6 and a iexible diaphragm ||2 of any suitable material which are permanently secured to one end of the housing cover 26 by means of a retainer ring H4. The end member ||0 and the diaphragm ||2 together form a contractible and expansible operating chamber ||6 for the flasher. Secured by a nut H8 or the like to the end member ||0 is a fitting |20 providing two opposed valve seats |22 and |24 and a passage |26 which is in permanent communication with a conduit |28, suitably secured to the member |29 by a union |30. The conduit |28 is in communication with a partial vacuum such as in the intake manifold, lor instance, of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, Suitably secured at |32 to the diphragm ||2 is a sleeve-like valve |34 which becomes seated on the valve seat |22` on each contraction of the operating chamber ||6. A compression spring |33 tends to expand the operating chamber |6 as shown in Fig. 1. Axially sldable in -the valve |34 is a main shut-oit Valve |38 which may be lifted from, and seated on, the valve seat |24 in a manner to be described presently. The free end of the valve |38 is suitably secured at |46 to a dish-shaped plate |42 which is held non-rotatable and is guided for movement axially of the rotor and brush carrier by guide pins |44 (Figs. 1 and 3) which projects from the end cover 3l of the switch housing. Compression springs |45, surrounding the guide pins |44, urge the plate |42 toward the rotor 64 and the brush carrier 42. Provided in the depressed bottom |45 of the plate |42 are clearance holes |41' (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) for the springs 8H which urge lthe lock discs 15 against the rotor yand brush carrier. As best shown in Fig. 4, the plate |42 has in a raised outer flange |48 four depressions |5d which aline with the vouter ends of cams 82 of the brush carrier when the latter is in its neutral position. The plate |42 has in a raised central portion |52 three vmore depressions |54 which aline with the inner ends of the cams 12 on the rotor when the latter lis in its neutral position. When both the brush carrier 42 and the rotor 64 are in their neutral position (Fig. 2), the cams 82 and l2 thereof not only aline but also register with the depressions ld `and |54, respectively, in the plate |42, with the result that the latter is then so close to the rotor and the brush carrier that the valve |38 is seated on the valve seat |24 and closes the vacuum passage |25. However, on manually setting the switch for a direction indication, the cams 82 on the brush carrier disaline from the depressions |50 in the plate |42 and depress the latter to the right as viewed in il Fig. 1, with the result that the valve |38 is lifted from its seat |24. The spring return of the brush carrier 42 into its neutral position after the rotor B4 is rotated from its neutral position by the r steering mechanism does not result in r-e-registry of the brush carrier cams 82 with the depressions |50 in the plate |42 because the rotor cams 12 have in the meantime been disalined from the depressions 54 in said plate and hold the latter depressed until the rotor returns to its neutral position, as will be readily understood. Hence, as long as either the brush carrier 42 or the rotor |54 is out of its neutral position, the valve |38 is lifted from its seat |24 and permits communication between the vacuum conduit |28 and the operating chamber H6 of the asher. While the valve |33 is open, the expanded operating chamber i8 is contracted by the partial vacuum. The

contraction of the chamber H is caused by an -A inward bending of the diaphragm l2 until the valve |34 becomes seated on the valve seat |22, whereupon atmospheric air entering the chamber I6 through a vent hole |55 is aided by the spring |38 to cause quick expansion of the chamber H6 and relifting of the valve |34 from its seat |32 until the admitted partial vacuum again contracts the chamber it and the valve |34 is again seated on its seat |22. Thus, alternate expansion and contraction of the operating chamber ||G takes place as long at the main valve ,|38 is open. When the main valve |38 is closed, the air admitted to the chamber ||5 through the vent hole |56 brings said chamber back into i-ts normal expanded state. Mounted on the outside of the switch housing is a main terminal (not shown) which is connected with any suitable source of electrical energy such as a storage battery (not shown). Secured at |58 to the main terminal is a conductive leaf spring which has intermediate its ends two punched-out lugs It to which is pivoted at |64 a link I which is preferably of insulating material and is connected at |68 with the diaphragm ||2 ata place remote from the outer periphery thereof. The free end of the conductive leaf spring is adapted to alternately engage the inwardly bent tongues Il!! of a conductive strap |12 when the operating chamber ||6 expands and contracts. The conductive strap |72 lies preferably in a machined `groove |14 in the housing cover 2B and is in contact with the conductive sleeve 88 in the manner best shown in Fig. 1. Thus, as long as the left turn or right turn signal circuits are closed, i. e., as long as the brush carrier 42 or the rotor 84 is out of its neutral position, the vacuum flasher is operative and the current iiovv in the closed signal circuits is periodically interrupted, resulting in periodic lighting of the respective bulbs.

The switch described herein in connection with the vacuum flasher is a preferred one, and it is to be understood that the present invention is not intended .to be limited to this particular switch as other switches may be combined in a. single unit with the vacuum flasher without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the switch shown and described in my mentioned coepending application Serial No. 395,637 can be combined with the present vacuum flasher in -a single contained unit in a self-evident manner.

I claim:

1. The combination with a switch having two movable members for closing diierent electrical circuits on movement of either member from a neutral position in opposite directions. respectively, and each member having a cam, of a flasher having make-and-break contacts in said circuits and a contractible and normally expanded, vented chamber for causing. on contraen tion and expansion, engagement and disengagement of said contacts, said chamber having a port providing communication between the former and a partial vacuum and a first valve clos ing said port on each contraction of said` chamber; another valve; a plate spring-urged against said members which are immovable in the direction of movement of the plate, and said plate having depressions registering with said cams when the respective members are in neutral posi tion; and a driving connection between said plate and other valve such that the latter closes said port independently of said first valve when the cams of both members register with said de pressions.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said switch has a closed housing enclosing the switch members and said plate, and having said port in one end, said chamber is formed in said housing by a exible partition therein opposite said port, said rst valve is sleeve-lile and secured to said partition and extends through the latter, and said other valve is slidably fitted in said rst valve.

3. The combination with a switch having two movable members for closing different electrical circuits, respectively, on movement of either member from a neutral position in opposite directions, respectively, one member being normally urged into neutral position and each member having two cams, of a flasher having makeand-break cont-acts in said circuits and a contractible and normally expanded, vented chamber for causing, on contraction and expansion, engagement and disengagement of said contacts, said chamber having a port providing communication `between the former and a partial vacuum and a first valve closing said port on each contraction of said chamber; two plates springurged against said members which are immovable in the direction of the former, one plate having depressions being in the path of movement of one cam of each member, respectively, and registering with the same in either of two active positions of said one member opposite its neutral position and in the neutral position of the other member, respectively, to thereby lock said one member against return to its neutral position and to release the latter for such return on movement of the other member from its neutral position, and the other plate having depressions being in the path of movement of the other cams of the members, respectively, and registerlng with the same in the neutral position of said members, respectively; another valve; and a driving connection between said other plate and other valve such that the latter closes said port independently of said first valve in the neutral position of both members only.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which said members are rotatable coaxially of each other and otherwise immovable, said switch has a closed housing enclosing the switch members and said plates and having said port in one end, said chamber is formed in said housing by a flexible partition therein opposite said port, said rst valve is sleeve-like and secured to said partition and extends through the latter, and

said other valve is slidably fitted in said first valve and directly connected with said other plate.

5. A combined switch and flasher unit, comprising a rigid housing; a flexible diaphragm in said housing partitioning the same in two chambers of which one has a port with two tandem-arranged valve seats opposite said diaphragm and a vent; cooperating switch elements in the other chamber for opening and closing a circuit; a first valve in said one chamber movable with the flexing diaphragm into and from seating engagement with one of said valve seats; another valve; means causing said other valve to become seated on and lifted from the other valve seat on actuating said switch elements to open and close, respectively, said circuit; and make-and-break contacts in said circuit actuated by the flexing diaphragm when said other valve is unseated and said rst valve establishes periodic communication between said one chamber and a partial vacuum through said port.

6. A combined switch and flasher unit as set forth in claim 5, in which said diaphragm has an aperture opposite said port and said first valve is sleeve-like and mounted in said aperture, said other valve is slidable in said first valve and said means are located in said other chamber.

'7. A combined switch and flasher unit as set forth in claim 5, in which said diaphragm has an aperture opposite said port and said first valve is sleeve-like and mounted in said aperture, said other valve is slidable in said first valve and said means as well as said make-and-break contacts are located in said other chamber.

8. A combined switch and flasher unit as set forth in claim 5, in which said valve seats are provided on the opposite ends of said port and said diaphragm has an aperture opposite said port, said rst valve is sleeve-like and mounted in said aperture and said other valve is slidable in said first valve and said means are located in said other chamber.

9. A combined switch and flasher unit, comprising a rigid housing; a centrally apertured flexible diaphragm in said housing partitioning the same in two chambers of which one has a port with two tandem-arranged valve seats opposite said aperture and a vent; cooperating switch elements in the other chamber and including a movable actuator for opening and closing a circuit; a flrst sleeve-like valve in said one chamber and mounted in said diaphragm aperture so as to be movable with the flexing diaphragm into and from seating engagement with one of said valve seats; another valve slidable in said first valve; means in said other chamber and including a cam on said actuator for causing said other valve to become seated on and lifted from the other valve seat on actuating said switch elements to open and close, respectively, said circuit; and make-and-break contacts in said circuit actuated by the flexing diaphragm when said other valve is unseated and said rst valve establishes periodio communication between said one chamber and a partial vacuum through said port.

10. A combined switch and flasher unit, comprising a rigid housing; a centrally apertured flexible diaphragm in said housing partitioning the same in two chambers of which one has a port with two tandem-arranged valve seats opposite said aperture and a vent; two movable devices in the other chamber cooperating to close different electrical circuits on movement of either device from a neutral position in opposite directions, respectively; a rst sleeve-like valve in said one chamber and mounted in said diaphragm aperture so as to be movable with the flexing diaphragm into and from seating engagement with one of said valve seats; another valve slidable in said rst valve; means in said other chamber and including a cam on each device for causing said other valve to become seated on and lifted from the other valve seat on movement of either device into, respectively, from neutral position;

; and make-and-break contacts in said circuits actuated by the flexing diaphragm when said other valve is unseated and said first valve establishes periodic communication between said one chamber and a partial vacuum through said port.

11. A vacuum flasher comprising a casing having a vent, one wall of said casing being formed by a flexible diaphragm and the wall opposite thereof being provided with a port communicable with a partial vacuum and having two tandem-arranged valve seats of which one is at the inner end of said port, a valve in said casing carried by said diaphragm and becoming seated on said one valve seat every time a partial vacuum in said casing causes the diaphragm to flex inwardly, another valve movable into and from seating engagement with the other valve seat, and make-and-break contacts actuated by the flexing diaphragm.

12. A vacuum flasher comprising a casing having a vent, one wall of said casing being formed by a centrally apertured, flexible diaphragm and the wall opposite thereof being provided with a port communicable with a partial vacuum and having two tandem-arranged valve seats of which one is at the inner end of said port, a first sleevelike valve in said casing mounted in the diaphragm aperture and becoming seated on said one valve seat every time a partial vacuum in said casing causes the diaphragm to flex inwardly, another valve slidable in said rst valve and movable into and from seating engagement with the 5 other valve seat, and make-and-break contacts actuated by the flexing diaphragm.

PAUL WEIEN. 

